Canon 1D versus Canon M50

The Canon EOS-1D and the Canon EOS M50 are two digital cameras that were officially introduced, respectively,
in September 2001 and February 2018. The 1D is a DSLR, while the M50 is a mirrorless interchangeable lens camera. The cameras are based on an APS-H (1D) and an APS-C sensor. The 1D has a resolution of 4.1 megapixel, whereas the M50 provides 24 MP.

Body comparison

The side-by-side display below illustrates the physical size and weight of the Canon 1D and the Canon M50. Three successive views from the front, the top, and the rear are shown. All width, height and depth measures are rounded to the nearest millimeter. If you prefer, you can also use the toggle button to switch to a comparison in percentage terms (in this case, the camera on the left – the 1D – represents 100 percent across all the size and weight measures).

Body view (1D on the left)

If the front view area (width x height) of the cameras is taken as an aggregate measure of their size,
the Canon M50 is considerably smaller (59 percent) than the Canon 1D. Moreover, the M50 is substantially lighter (75 percent) than the 1D. It is worth mentioning in this context that the 1D is splash and dust resistant,
while the M50 does not feature any corresponding weather-sealing.

The above size and weight comparisons are to some extent incomplete since they do not consider the interchangeable lenses
that both of these cameras require. Hence, you might want to study the specifications of available lenses
in order to get the full picture of the size and weight of the two camera systems.

Concerning battery life, the 1D gets 500 shots out of its NP-E3 battery,
while the M50 can take 235 images on a single charge of its LP-E12 power pack.

The table below summarizes the key physical specs of the two cameras alongside
a broader set of comparators. If you want to switch the focus of the display and review another
camera pair, just select a new right or left comparator from among the camera models in the table.
Alternatively, you can also move across to the CAM-parator tool and
choose from the broad selection of possible comparisons there.

The listed prices provide an indication of the market segment that the manufacturer of the cameras have been targeting. The M50 was launched at a markedly lower price (by 88 percent) than the 1D, which puts it into a different market segment.
Usually, retail prices stay at first close to the launch price, but after several months, discounts become available.
Later in the product cycle and, in particular, when the replacement model is about to appear, further discounting
and stock clearance sales often push the camera price considerably down. Then, after the new model is out, very good deals can frequently be
found on the pre-owned market.

Sensor comparison

The size of the imaging sensor is a crucial determinant of image quality. All other things equal, a large sensor will have larger individual pixel-units that offer better low-light sensitivity, wider dynamic range, and richer color depth than smaller pixels in a sensor of the same technological generation. Further, a large sensor camera will give the photographer additional creative options when using shallow depth-of-field to isolate a subject from its background. On the downside, larger sensors tend to be more expensive and lead to bigger and heavier cameras and lenses.

Of the two cameras under consideration, the Canon 1D features an APS-H sensor and the Canon M50
an APS-C sensor. The sensor area in the M50 is 39 percent smaller. As a result of these sensor size differences, the cameras have a format factor of, respectively, 1.3 and 1.6. Both cameras have a native aspect ratio (sensor width to sensor height) of 3:2.

Sensor size

Despite having a smaller sensor, the M50 offers a higher
resolution of 24 megapixel, compared with 4.1 MP of the 1D.
This megapixel advantage comes at the cost of a higher pixel density and a smaller size of the individual pixel
(with a pixel pitch of 3.72μm versus 11.56μm for the 1D). However, it should be noted that the M50 is much more recent (by 16 years and 5 months) than the 1D, and its sensor
will have benefitted from technological advances during this time that make it possible to gather light more efficiently.

Sensor resolution

Since 2007, DXO Mark has published sensor performance measurements that have been derived using a consistent methodology. This service is based on lab testing and assigns an overall score to each camera sensor, as well as ratings for dynamic range ("DXO Landscape"), color depth ("DXO Portrait"), and low-light sensitivity ("DXO Sports"). The following table provides an overview of the physical sensor characteristics, as well as the sensor quality measurements for a selection of comparators.

Many modern cameras are not only capable of taking still images, but also of capturing video footage. The M50 indeed provides for movie recording, while the 1D does not. The highest resolution format that the M50 can use is 4K/24p.

Feature comparison

Apart from body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a variety of features. For example, the M50 has an electronic viewfinder (2360k dots), while the 1D has an optical one.
Both systems have their advantages, with the electronic viewfinder making it possible to project supplementary shooting information
into the framing view, whereas the optical viewfinder offers lag-free viewing and a very clear framing image. The following table reports on some other key feature differences and similarities of the Canon 1D, the Canon M50, and comparable cameras. The full specs-sheets can be found in the camera manual or, for example, in the dpreview camera hub.

The M50 is a current model that online retailers, such as amazon, will have in stock.
In contrast, the 1D has been discontinued (but it can be found pre-owned on ebay). As a replacement in the same line of cameras, the 1D was succeeded by the Canon 1D Mark II.

Summary

So what conclusions can be drawn? Is there a clear favorite between the Canon 1D and the Canon 1D? A synthesis of the relative strong points of each of the models is listed below.

Arguments in favor of the Canon EOS-1D:

Brighter framing: Features an optical viewfinder for clear, lag-free composition.

Easier setting verification: Has an LCD display on top to control shooting parameters.

More compact: Is smaller (116x88mm vs 156x158mm) and will fit more readily into a bag.

Less heavy: Has a lower weight (by 1195g or 75 percent) and is thus easier to take along.

More legacy lens friendly: Can use many non-native lenses via adapters.

Easier fill-in: Has a small integrated flash to brighten shadows of backlit subjects.

More affordable: Was introduced into a lower priced category (88 percent cheaper at launch).

More modern: Reflects 16 years and 5 months of technical progress since the 1D launch.

If the count of individual advantages (bullet points above) is taken as a guide, the M50 is the clear winner of the contest (14 : 6 points). However, the relative importance of the various individual camera aspects will vary according to personal preferences and needs, so that you might like to apply corresponding weights to the particular features.

1D 06:14 M50

In any case, while the comparison of technical specifications can provide a useful overview of the capabilities of different cameras, it remains incomplete and does no justice, for example, to the way the 1D or the M50 handle or perform in practice. At times, user reviews, such as those published at amazon, address these issues in a useful manner, but such feedback is on many occasions incomplete, inconsistent, and unreliable. This is why hands-on reviews by experts are important. The table below summarizes the assessments of some of the best known camera review sites. The detailed reviews can be accessed, respectively, on the websites of cameralabs.com, dpreview.com, ephotozine.com, imaging-resource.com, and photographyblog.com.

The above review scores should be interpreted with care, though. The ratings are only valid when refering to cameras in the same category and of the same age. Hence, a score should always be seen in the context of the camera's market launch date and its price, and comparing ratings of very distinct cameras or ones that are far apart in terms of their release date have little meaning. Also, kindly note that some of the listed sites have over time developped their review approaches and their reporting style.

Other comparisons

If you would like to see a different side-by-side camera review, just use the search menu below. There is also a set of direct links to comparison reviews that other users of the CAM-parator app explored. If the camera you are interested in is not available, please send me an email, and I will try to update the database with the necessary infos.